Burger chains to look out for in 2018

The "fast-casual" industry - think of places like Panera - is growing by leaps and bounds. According to Technavio, the market for fast-casual fare is expected to hit $66.87 billion by 2020, and there are dozens (if not hundreds) of fast-casual concepts that have opened in recent years that are going to be competing for their share of the pie, some as offshoots of major fast food chains and some from big-name fine dining chefs. Plenty of burger joints are in this category, and we've tracked down 10 that should be on your radar.

Perhaps no type of food is more associated with (or suited for) quick-service lunchtime fare than burgers, and the fast-casual movement is leaving old-fashioned greasy spoon fast food burger joints in the dust. The folks behind these "better burger" concepts, as they're known, know that modern diners want to know where the ingredients are sourced, they want to know if they're high-quality and all-natural, and they want to know that their food is made with care. They want to customize their burgers (or choose from a variety of cheffed-up creations), and if they're not in the mood for a beef patty, they want veggie and turkey patties as options. In short, consumers are demanding a higher level of quality and service, and these concepts are delivering.

The "fast-casual" industry - think of places like Panera - is booming. According to Technavio, the market for fast-casual fare is expected to hit $66.87 billion by 2020, and there are dozens (if not hundreds) of fast-casual concepts that have opened in recent years that are going to be competing...